Guests say
Waterhead Retreat in Ambleside is highly praised for its cleanliness, stunning views, and high-quality furnishings. Guests appreciate the secure, warm, and cosy environment, with a well-equipped kitchen and newly refurbished spaces. The location is ideal for exploring the Lake District, with easy access to local amenities and transport. While some minor maintenance issues and a lack of welcome gifts are noted, the overall experience is overwhelmingly positive, with many guests eager to return.
The apartment consistently receives high marks for cleanliness, with multiple reviews noting it as 'spotlessly clean' and 'well maintained'. The attention to cleanliness contributes significantly to guests' comfort and satisfaction.
The property's location is frequently commended for its convenience and proximity to local attractions, eateries, and transport links. The scenic views and accessibility to Ambleside and the wider Lake District enhance the appeal of the property.
Guests find the apartment comfortable, with special mentions of the quality of furnishings and the cosy atmosphere. The spaciousness and modern amenities contribute to a relaxing stay, although some guests noted issues with heating adjustments.
The apartment's facilities are generally well-regarded, especially the kitchen's high specification. However, some guests reported maintenance issues, such as a non-operational lift and missing kitchen items, which slightly detract from the overall experience.
While some guests missed having a welcome pack upon arrival, which is a common amenity in holiday rentals, it is not consistently mentioned across the reviews. As such, it is not possible to accurately score thoughtfulness based on the available information.
About this property
Located just 50 metres from the lake shore at Waterhead, this penthouse apartment has some of the finest views imaginable. On the third floor of a select development, Waterhead Retreat makes a superb choice for guests looking for a central base in the Lake District. Waterhead is just a short walk from the centre of Ambleside, yet itself has two lovely bars, a few lovely shops and Windermere Lake Cruises departing regularly for Bowness and Lakeside. The apartment comes with its own private parking space and shared visitor spaces close by. A choice of stairs or lift take guests to the third floor entrance and the fabulous living space inside. Step onto the private balcony and take in the breath-taking view of the lake, before sinking into the heavenly leather armchairs or sofa to admire the apartment’s soothing and tasteful décor. The feeling of calm follows through to two elegant bedrooms, A double with en-suite power shower room and one twin (zip link - can be made double on request) with its own bathroom with bath and shower attachment. Finally, the smart white kitchen is equipped with everything required for cooking up a hearty breakfast or delicious evening meal. Waterhead Retreat is a superb choice for guests of all ages and interests. Ambleside itself is a popular destination for locals and holiday makers alike. Charming shops, fabulous restaurants and inviting tea rooms like around every corner, there are two wonderful little cinemas, a famous pizzeria and jazz bar providing live music. Grasmere, Hawkshead and Windermere are all just a few miles away and the glorious fells, hills and mountain landscapes are seemingly endless.
Lying at the northern tip of Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, Ambleside makes a superb base for touring the central Lakes, with Grasmere and the Langdale Valley just a short drive away. There is plenty to do here - cruises, boat trips and watersports on Lake Windermere itself and numerous shops, restaurants and pubs in the village to suit all tastes. On the lakeside at Waterhead, the parkland offers lovely views down the lake and a short stretch of beach, whilst a walk in the other direction, following Stock Ghyll through woodland, will bring you to the entrancing waterfall of Stock Ghyll Force. Along with the Lake and the great walking on offer, Ambleside is also famous for its annual rushbearing ceremony and the diminutive 17th century “Bridge House” - one of the most photographed buildings in the Lake District and now the National Trust Information Centre.
Accommodation
1x double bedroom (with en-suite power shower room)
1 x twin (can be made as Double on request) with use of house bathroom with bath and shower attachment.
Sitting room with dining area.
Kitchen.
Electric storage heating.
Electric oven with halogen hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washer/dryer, TV, DVD, WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Private parking space plus visitor parking.
Video entry system.
Pubs and shops nearby.
Lift.
Sorry, no pets and no smoking.
Nearby points of interest
- Lake Windermere
- Wastwater Lake
- Wastwater Alpaca Trekking
Reviews (18)
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Kathleen
Just a couple of suggestions: There are two framed pages of information available. These state that the heating is set for use. However when we arrived on a cold October afternoon the apartment was stone cold with no heating on at 5pm. It turned out that all the radiators were turned down to 12 degrees. It took a while to work this out. The wifi information is also out of date. There is another sheet with the correct password in the kitchen, but again after sorting out the heating, this caused another delay. We rang the number provided for help but of course the office was shut, so that wasn't any use.
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Andrew
The apartment is furnished to a high specification and the view of the lake is even better in real life. You are only a few minutes walk to the lakeside and several pubs. It was spotlessly clean, the wifi worked well, it had comfortable chairs and a good sized smart tv. The parking wasn't a problem, the official spot is too small for most cars but one of the visitor spots has a sign saying parking for this apartment. There were also other free spots available for the whole of the week. Hiring a self drive boat on the lake was fun and as was the open top bus to Grasmere, there is a bus stop right outside the block.
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Angela
This might seem trivial to some but I always enjoy the welcome pack, trying a local wine or cake, and not having to rush straight out to buy milk for a cuppa! It just seems a bit stingy when you donât get one! Unfortunately we also had an issue with parking - the allocated space was often taken up by a van or car from another flat.